Honolulu’s weather patterns are shaping up to maintain stable and dry conditions, at least through Friday, as a broad high-pressure system dominate the region. According to the National Weather Service in Honolulu, the breezy trade winds we've been experiencing are expected to slowly ease, beginning tomorrow, making way for moderate strength winds over the next few days. These tradewinds have been a consistent presence, driving some light showers across windward slopes, but don’t expect a deluge. The showers have been light and few, mainly gracing the windward and mauka regions, with a pattern of diminishing in the afternoon.
While there are "No changes to the forecast this morning," the NWS expects that the ridge to the north is set to weaken, potentially causing the trades to lessen somewhat tonight. This weakening, however, won’t be dramatic enough to disrupt the stable conditions majorly, which are being bolstered by an upper level ridge over the islands. Moisture is likely to remain minimal in the trade wind flow, so we're looking at modest windward rainfall, and leeward areas should remain largely dry, aside from a possible few afternoon showers on Kona slopes of the Big Island, the report indicates.
For mariners, it's been a bit rough on the waters, with the strong trades kicking up conditions that warranted a Small Craft Advisory (SCA) across windier channels and near the Maui County and the Big Island. This advisory, according to the NWS, has been prolonged through tomorrow morning. However, keep your life vests handy as "SCA conditions may drop off as early as Wednesday as winds ease to moderate to fresh then persist through Friday." Sightings of surfers chasing the high surf along east-facing shores might minimize by the end of the week, since the surf is expected to fall below average by then.
Moreover, with the ongoing breezy conditions coupled with dry weather, fire weather concerns remain heightened today, though they have not reached the threshold of being critical. Good news is on the horizon for firefighters, as "improvement is expected as winds decline Wednesday into Friday," per the forecast on NWS. High Surf Advisories are still active until this evening for several areas, so be sure to check with local authorities before planning any coastal activities or outings.
